Verdict: Murder Takes Time plows through your mind like a freight train. Heavy hitting and well crafted, Giacomo Giammatteo delves into the New York underworld from a fresh perspective. Part mob story, part psychological thriller, this book is not for the weak of heart (or stomach!)

5.0

Giacomo Giammatteo’s riveting thriller delves into the relationships between childhood friends who lead very different adult lives.

Frankie “Bugs” Donovan becomes a detective, and is leading an investigation into murders that are looking more and more like the work of someone he knows. As Donovan is left personal clues by the killer, he decides that he is indeed looking for his childhood friend Nicky. This is the worst position for Donovan to be in, as he is torn between friendship and honor; the oath of Donovan and his young friends, and doing the right thing as a cop. Growing up in small town Delaware, oaths were not to be broken. In Brooklyn, the investigation gets hotter.

Niccolo Fusco, aka “Nicky The Rat” went to prison because he fought for his friends. He happened to be the only unfortunate one to get caught. As he counts down the seven long years (which is extended as he behaves equally rebellious in jail) until he can breathe fresh air again, his girlfriend and one true love; Angela, gets pregnant and (he thinks) moves on with her life. Angela marries another man and Nicky turns to what he knows best, a life of crime. He becomes a hit man. Nicky meets Gina; a girl he decides to protect and falls in love with, who is blackmailing Nicky’s boss, Tito Martelli. Nicky and Gina run away together. They get married and start a new life. But nobody is safe from the mob.

As tragic events force Nicky deeper into his murderous lifestyle, this time it’s extremely personal. Tony Sannullo was always like a brother to Nicky. Tony’s mother Rosa was a mom to Nicky too when his parents both died. Tony works his way up the ranks in the mob working for Tito, and is angry when Nicky gets a job with Tito that seems to be a secret. He discovers that Nicky is a shooter (hit man) and begins building a grudge that already had firmly rooted foundations for years.

Escalating with killing after killing, it’s a wonder that everyone is able to stay sane and live as long as they do. Murder Takes Time plows through your mind like a freight train. Heavy hitting and well crafted, Giacomo Giammatteo delves into the New York underworld from a fresh perspective. Part mob story, part psychological thriller, this book is not for the weak of heart (or stomach!) Unexpected twists and turns abound as these savvy characters think on their feet through and through. This is a new breed of book.